Microsoft: No More Purchasing Apps on Zune Software and Pre-Mango Windows Phones

April 24, 20126 Comments

Microsoft has announced that starting today you will not be able to download apps from the Zune software. I am sure that many of you don’t bother going that route anyway and that is why Microsoft is concentrating on downloads via your smartphone and the web.

general rule, we like to focus our engineering efforts where they matter most, and your taps and clicks tell us that’s our phone and web stores. So starting today we began the process of removing the Windows Phone apps option from the Zune software. The Zune HD app store will remain open.

This change won’t require you to do anything special. Next time you run the program, you’ll simply see a pop-up letting you know features have changed. After you restart the software, it will look like the screenshot below. By the way, the Zune software is still important for things like installing Windows Phone software updates and making backup copies of photos and videos stored on your handset. And, of course, many people use it to play and buy music.

You will still need Zune to sync photos, music, videos and for the Zune HD. Another change that is coming soon is the fact that those that have not upgraded to Mango (Windows Phone 7.5) will not be able to download apps anymore. Microsoft is in the process of growing the marketplace and adding new features. Thus, having to move n from Windows Phone 7.0.

Speaking of updates, most of you already carry phones running Windows Phone 7.5, the latest version of our smartphone operating system. But a handful of folks haven’t upgraded from earlier versions yet. If you’re one of them, and you like apps, now would be a good time to update.

That’s because starting in the next few weeks anybody who wants to buy or download a new app, update an existing app, or submit app reviews to Marketplace will need Windows Phone 7.5 on their phone. Updating your phone isn’t hard—typically all you need to do is plug it into your computer. Before you start the process, which can take an hour or more, you’ll want to read over the checklist on Update Central, our comprehensive how-to and troubleshooting resource. To install the update, follow the steps in this article.

With growth comes changes and these two big changes make alot of sense. I can’t even remember the last time I downloaded an app from Zune (which is the point of it all).

I understand the change but it was the only place where it was somewhat automated to install apps that you had bought through the store on the Zune software. I keep wondering when they will update the Zune software to be able to backup and restore all your apps and setting when replacing/upgrading a phone.

Ammw999

so is this why zune told me features had changed to restart? Kinda disappointed they didnt add new features to the software

Arjburgess

This is bull#$%&. I am regretting buying a windows phone, they instead of adding options and features, they are taking them away! I am in an area where there is not great internet access, and downloading apps off my PC in the short periods when i have internet access is by far the easiest and time productive way. And now its been taken away. Very dissapointed, thinking of getting rid of this phone and going back to my iPhone